Refrigerator frame



Sept. 6, 1932. G, Q BQHN 1,875,843

REFRIGERATOR FRAME Filed May 5, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1932. G. c. BoHN 1,875,843

REFRIGERATOR FI'RAME Filed May 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @297mm 0.13am@ Sept. 5, 1932.`

G. cz.` BONN l,875,843

REFRIGERATOR FRAME l'iLsnd may 5. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES GEBHARD e. BoHN, or sr. PAUL, MINNnsQgrn i n REFRIGERATOR :FRAME Application led. May 5; 1930. Serial `I\T0. 4:l=9,892.

The present invention relates to a refrig-l erator frame, and more particularly to knock-down type of refrigerator frames in which the parts thereof can be readily rev5 moved and reassembled.

In many of the larger refrigerators, such as those used in large residences, clubs, and commercial refrigerators, it is impossible to .I get the refrigerator in through the door'or 1U other opening available and it is necessary to disassemble the refrigerator to get it in the desired location. Various expedients have been resorted to in order to facilitate assemx bly and disassembly Aof a refrigerator, but 155 in most cases it is necessary for one familiar with refrigerator construction to perform the operation of disassembling and re-assembling the refrigerator, and frequently rei quires the reshaping of some ofthe parts be- 29 fore the operation is completed. Furthermore, such assembly and disassembly frequently requires the removal of som-e of the insulating units incorporated therein. TheseV units are frequently injured by such removal 2b' and replacement, thus reducing their efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to make a knock-down type of refrigerator which can be readily assembled and disassembled without the use of complicated tools and by an ordinary mechanic or layman.

Another object is to make an improvedand simplified lrnoclndown type of refrigerator.

provided, in accordance Vwith one' form of the invention, a base member, having insulation therein and having metal sheathing interiorly and eXteriorl'v thereof, and end 'to be supported thereon. These end members are adapted to supportingly engage a front and a rear member.` and the assembled front.v rear, and end members are arranged to receive a removable top member which in turn is adapted to receive a removable refrigerating unit.

These and other features of the invention will be more fully brought out in the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

In order to attain these objects, there is members adapted to be mounted on said basel Figure 1 is a view in'perspective of a refrigerator frame embodying the present 1n- Ventron.

Figure 2 is a view in top elevation of one of the end members thereof. 55)' Figure 3 is a. view in side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of they front member of said frame. f,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 d" of Figure 4. n Y Y Y Figure 6 is a Vi w in top elevation of the structure sho-wn in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a view in top elevation of a removable top member. 651 Figure 8' is a sectional View on the line 8 8 of Figure 7. l l

Figure V9 is a view inl top elevation Aofaremovable front strip'for the. structure shownl n ,l in Figure 7. Y I 7'0" Figure 10 is a view in side elevation ofthe structure shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an end view of the structure, shown in Figure 9.V Figure 12 is a view in front elevation of a 75' rear frame member.

Figure 13 is a sectional view onthe line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Figure '14 is a view in top elevation of la base member. 80"

`Figure 15 is a sectional View on the line 15-15 of Figure 14;` and l Figure16 is a sectional view on the lineI 16-16 of Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a re- 851' frigerator frameworlrA comprises the following co-ordinating units, base B, front C, rear D, ends E, top F, and removable raill for frontof top G;

The base (see Figures 14, 15, and 16) com# 903! prises two end rails 1 and 2 and side rails 3 and 4, securely connected together in the form of a rectangular frame, as by means of mortise and tenon joints. The front rail 4 is somewhat narrower than the rear rail 95;

10 and 11 with transverse rails 12 and 13 connected at the top and bottom thereof respectively. The bottom rail is narrower than the top rail and is set upwardly from the bottom of the verticalrails ay distance equal to the width of the transverse strips 6l and 7 mounted on the ends of the base frame member. The bottom and top rails 12 and y 13 land* also a central transverse rail 14 are.

secured to the vertical rails by means of mor-` tise and tenen joints, the tenons extending y entirely through the vertical railsk and projecting beyond the outer surfaces of said vertical rails. The forward side of the front vertical rail is notched out as at 15 to form a 'half lap joint with alfront rail of the refrigerator top structure, while the top of the rear vertical yrail is notched as at 16 to form anofset portion to assist in supporting a removable top structure. The lower ends of both the front and rear rails are notched as at 17 to fit over and restupon the base structure to assist in supporting the end frame members. A board 18 is secured in position above. the lower rail 13 and asimilar board 19 is secured below the upper `ra-il.12.-'l"hese boardsl are of the same width as the vertical railsjl() and 11, and form, in conjunction with the side Vrails and the transverse center rail 14, rectangular frames for the reception of insulating material, not shown, with which refrigerators `are customarily insulated.

The front frame member (see Figures 4, 5 and 6) comprises vertical side rails 2O and 21 and transverse top and bottom rails 22 and 23 securely connected together as by means of mortise and tenon joints to form a rigid rectangular frame. -A vertical center post 24 is securely mounted in the frame thus formed, and transverse division members 25 and 26 are mounted as required to divide the front into the required door openings. Aroundthe interior of eac-h of the door openings thus formedare secured wooden strip 27 which taper toward their forward edge, as-shown in. the sectional view of Figure 2. These strips are undercut beneath both their front and rear edges to provide recesses for receiving the flanged edges of enameled sheathing plates, not shown, in accordance with a well known practice in the refrigerator art. The tapered strips 27 are used to formthe door opening so to correspond tothe shape of the doors, noty shown, which are to v be inserted therein. The doors used may be of a conventional vtype commonly used withenamel sheathed refrig -erators.k Grooves suchas 28 and 29 are provided in the outer surface of the front frame to receive the flanged edges of theenameled sheathing plates. Each of the vertical side rails is provided with three holes 30, 31, and 32, to receive tie bolts which extend entirely through the assembled framework from front to rear andl tie the entire structure into a single solid unit. Mortises, not shown, are cut in the rear face of each of the vertical side rails of the front frame member to receive the tenons 33 of the end frame members.

The rear frame member D, shown in Figures 12 and113, comprises vertical side rails 34 and 35 and top and bottom rails 36 and 37 securely fastened together by mortise andA tenon joints. `A verticalcenter-post 38 is securely fastened in position in this frame and` lateral division members 39 and 40 are also secured in position to divide the rear frame member into rectangular compartments for the reception of insulation. The center postv 38 andthe lateral division members 39 and 40k are of the thickness required for the insulation, but the side, top, and bottom rails are not, and for this reason'boards 41 are secured to the inner edges of these railscto build them out to the proper width. Mortises 42 are prof vided in the vertical rails 34 and 35 to receive the tenons of the end frame members. Openings 43, 44,`and 45 are provided correspond-I ing to the openings 30, 31, and 32 inthe front frame members to receive the tie bolts 46 (see Figure 1). Y Y

The top structure comprises the `framekF and the front rail G. The frame F comprises a rear rail 47 with similar, forwardlyextending rectangular end portions at the ends thereof. lThese end portions comprise rail members V48 and 49, and a transversely positioned forward member 50 which forms withV the other members a rectangular frame at each end for the reception of insulating material. Tenons 51 project forwardly from the rail members 49 to enter mortises 52 in the front rail G of the top structure. A refriger-Y ator unit support-strip 53 is securely fastened beneath the'rails 47 and 49 to extend out wardly from these members into the rectangu-v lar bay formed by them. These support members are grooved on vtheir lowersides to receive the flange of an enameled sheathing member, not shown. Y

The front rail member comprises the member 54 notched out on its ends at 55 to sear in the notched-out portion of the front vertical rails of the end frame members 10 to form a half lap joint therewith. VlVlortises 52 are cut in the member 54.to receive the tenons 51.. Holes 56 are drilled in the `member 54 to receive screws by means of which this rail is secured to the end frame members 1() and 'an opening 57 is also provided, for the tie bolts 46. A refrigerator unit support strip 58 isv also secured to the lower surface of the rail 54 to fit between the ends of the strips 53 to complete the rectangle.

To assemble the framework as shown in Figure 1, the base B is placed in position on a smooth level surface, the base being supported on legs which are permanently attached thereto. The end members E are then placed in position on the base, the lower rails 13 resting on the strips 6 and 7 and the notched portions 17 resting on the end rails 1 and 2 of the base. The back frame member `:D is next placed in position, the tenons of the end frame members fitting into the mortises 12 of the rear frame member. The top frame member E is next placed in position, and is of a size to be readily insertable into the rectangular bay formed by the top rails 12 of the end frame members and the top rail 36 of the rear frame member. This top frame F rests upon and is supported by the boards 1 9 secured to the lower surfaces of the top rails 12 of the end frame members E, the top of the rear frame member center post 38, and also fits into the notched-out portion 15 of the rear rails of the end frame members.` lt is at this point of assembly that the refrigerating unit is placed in position, so that it may be moved into position in the rectangular bay in the top frame member F to rest on the strips 53.

The front rail assembly G of the top section is then placed in position and is secured in place by screws passing through the opening 56 and into the front vertical rails of the end frame members E. Y

The front frame member C is then placed in position with the tenons of the end frame members E entering the mortise in the front frame member and the tie bolts 46 are then inserted in the openings 30, 31, and 32, and entirely through the framework from front to rear. Nuts are then screwed onto the rear ends of the bolts and are drawn up tight to bind the entire framework into one solid unit.

The present specification is directed to the framework alone, since it would unnecessarily complicate the specification and drawings to show the remaining steps required to complete the refrigerator. However, it is apparent to one versed in the art that doors of al desired type may be mounted in the door openings in the front frame member, that insulation material will be placed in the rectangular frames formed by the parts of the frame structure with the exception of the door openings, and the rectangular opening for the refrigerating unit in the top section, and that the frame members will be sheathed inside and out with enameled metal sheathing members in a manner familiar to the art.

The assembly of the completed units will be accomplished in the same manner as that described for the assembly of the frame memers.

I claim: n v

1. A knock-down refrigerator assembled from interlocking units, comprising a base, end members engaging said base and supported thereby,;said end members' having for- W0 wardly and rearwardly projecting elements to support front and rear members, a front and a rear member having recesses to receive the projections on the end members,.a removable top portion insertable in the uppel:

versely across theforward portion of said.

top member.

`2. A demountable refrigerator, comprising a base, end members engaging said base element to be supported thereby, a rear member` having interlocking engagement with said end members, an offset seat spaced downwardly from the upper edge of said side and rear members, a removable top member supported on saidseat and having a rectangular bay therein, open on the forward side thereof, a removable rail positioned across the forward side of said bay to4 enclose said bay, and a removable front portion having interlocking engagement with said end portions, means carried by the top portion to removably support a mechanical refrigerating unit by horizontal insertion of the latter through the front of the frame and tie means extending from front to rear of said structure to unite said structure into av single unit.

3. A refrigerator comprising a base, removable end members mounted thereon to be supported thereby, a rear member mounted transversely across the rear portion of said end members and having interlocking engagement therewith, a removable top member supported within the upper ends of said rear and end members, said top member having a rectangular bay therein. open at the front, a rail vacross the front of said bay, and a vfront member having interlocking engagement with said end members, means Carried by the top portion to removably support a mechanical .refrigerating unit by horizontal insertion of the latter through the front of the frame and Vmeans connecting said front and rear membersto said end members to unite said structure into a single unit.

1. A refrigerator, comprising a base having permanently connected supporting legs, an extension on-each end of said base, a pair of end members'mounted one on each end of said base to rest upon said extensions mounted on the ends of said base, a rear frame mounted on said base and having interlocking engagement with said end members, a front member supported on said base and hav- 'ingr interlocking engagement with: said end members, a-removable top inserted 1n the upper end'oi" th'e'frame formed by'theend members and the front and rear frame members, .saldi'top 'frame member having a-rectangular opening therein to receive a-mechanical re- 'frigeratingfunit byy horizontal movement ,thereofthrough the Aront ofi-the frame.

- 5.1A: refrigerator, comprising f a base mounted onpermanently connected support'- ing legs, pairy of end members mounted one 0nl .ea-ch end of said base to besupported thereby, a rear frame member resting upon said Vbase and havinginterloclring connection with said end members,a yremovable top meniber inserted in the upper end ofthe frame VVformed by the end members andthe rear member, said top having a pair of'rectangu-v l lar insulationrframes positioned one on each end thereof to leavel a rectangular bay bevWeen said frames, a langeyairound the inte-v rior of said bay to removably receive and supporta `mechanical refrigerating unit, by horizontal movement of the unit through the open front of the bay a front closure member removably positioned across the Vfront of said fbay, and a removable front frame member supported on a base and having interlocking engagement With said end frame members.'

6.V A refrigerator, comprising a base frame member having a rectangular opening to receiveinsulat-ion, a pair: of end frame members having rectangular openings to receive in# sulation materialV mounted on said base vframe member to be supported thereby a rear frame member having rectangular openings to receive insulation material and hav ing interlocking engagement with said end frame members, a removable top member inserted in the upper endy of the frame formed by the end members and the rearmember,said

top having a pair of rectangular insulation frames positioned one on each end thereof to leave a rectangular bay between said frames, a flange around the vinterior of said bay'to removably receive and support a mechani cal refrigerating unit, by horizontal movement of theunit through the open front ofthe' bay a front closure member removably positioned across the front of said bay, and aremovable front frame member having a plurality of door openings therein, said frame member being supported on the base and having interlocking engagement With said end frame members, all of said frame members being adapted to be covered With enameled sheathing material.

' In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature.

`GEBHARD C. BOHN. 

